S211 Someone Run in to the Rear

[amb67]

Yesterday someone crashed in to the back of my wife’s S211 whilst she was waiting to exit a junction in our village. The other driver gave contact details and my wife took the registration number..... she's smart when she wants to be.

They admitted liability on the spot and offered to pay for the repairs without going through their insurance, which initially I thought was very honourable of them. Unfortunately this morning I have looked at the damage and it's quite extensive, to the point that the tailgate aperture is no longer the correct shape and the tailgate will not close. The lights are damaged and the car appears to be leaning slightly to one side, could the rear airmatic shocks have been damaged?

My wife called them this morning to advise that the car may be written off and they immediately became quite aggressive, I took over the phone call and attempted to complete the call and take their insurance details, they continually talked over me and clearly wasn't prepared to listen to my comments nor willing to supply me their insurance policy details.

I was a panel beater for many years before moving across to become a technician in HM Forces so do know a little about these things. The other driver referred to the damage as a scratch and a dent, little do they know that I estimate the repair costs to be well over £3K as the floor of the boot and the roof panel have also sustained damage.

Anyhow, during the call I asked them was they prepared to pay for a hire car so my wife can take our disabled daughter around whilst the car was in for repair, they commented "That's not my problem, you'll have to sort that out" at this point I terminated the call and reported him to my insurer for not supplying me his insurance details.

All in all not quite the relaxing weekend I had planned, just waiting for the recovery truck to take the car away for safe storage as the boot will not close.

My questions are and I need your input as I've never claimed before:

1. I have just fitted a new battery, 4 new tyres and two front springs at a cost of just shy of £1000.00. Can I claim this off his insurance or expect recompense?
2. If they do write the car off what payment do I get, is it a value as it is now or is it to buy a replacement vehicle of similar or better standard?

I'll probably have more questions as it sinks in but for now I would appreciate your wisdom and experience so that I don't get ripped off.


Many thanks

 

[rpe2]

I fear that you will find that the reason for them being so quick to admit liability (which every insurance company tells you not to do no matter how clear cut) it's that they are carrying no/ minimal level insurance. Forget trying to deal with them, contact your insurers and let them handle it.

 

[Spannaz]

Right, first thing you must do is report this to the police!! If they refuse to provide insurance details they are breaking the law! If it turns out they are not insured, then it's also for the police to deal with.
What insurance company are you with, might be able to help with some friendly advice as my sister is very involved in the claims department of a well known insurance company.

 

[Xtractorfan]

Notify the polics immediately if not already done so.
then go get an estimate for repair, find a good bodyshop, who will give you a good idea of how light or severe the damage is...
You can inform the guy who caused the accident if you wish.. he may be willing to pay if the price is right.
The police will be able to get his details, but they will not pass them on to you..you will have to employ a solicitor to get the details...
Try not to go thru your own insurance company if you possibly can, because they will not be your best friend.....
If you can find details of the other insurance company they will get you fixed with a hire car, and authorise your repairs or write your car off... they will also, if you wish, let you buy your car back..your own company wont...
In the meantime do not allow anyone to take your car away to store it for you.. the storage costs will deffo put your car in the write off category... and if you do buy the car back from the insurance company, the storgae , which you will have to pay, will be astronomical...
If you have no luck finding out other guys details, I would suggest you find a good accident management company..yikes is there such a thing... they will handle all the details for you.. but do not let them take your car either...they also charge extortianate storage rates... remember it is your car, no one can tell you what to do with your car, they will tell you, but we have to store it, you tell them, I have it it stored securely it is mine and I am keeping it.. until things have been sorted..
You also have the right to have your car repaired at the garage of your choice,
The other thing you may have legal cover on your insuurance policy, check it out and ask them to follow a claim for you, but tell them it is important that you have your case sorted pronto and ring them every day for an update...legal insurance people are only there to take your money, they detest having to do any work to earn it..

 

[ianstaley]

I had an accident a few years ago bloke reversed into me, took details and his number plate pity he had a different one on the front. the Police knew who it was but couldn't prove it. So after that I always take the registration number and check the front for the same. And always call the police they will only come if some one hurt so play the whiplash till they come and deal with it.

 

[pipmk]

Right, first thing you must do is report this to the police!! If they refuse to provide insurance details they are breaking the law! If it turns out they are not insured, then it's also for the police to deal with.
What insurance company are you with, might be able to help with some friendly advice as my sister is very involved in the claims department of a well known insurance company.

I don't think that is correct unless someone was injured. All you are required to do is to provide name and address,both of the driver and the vehicle owner if that differs,not your insurance details.However you are required to provide your insurance details if a policeman at the scene asks you to do so.

 

[Developer]

Sorry to hear that Alan :cry:.

 

[Spannaz]

I don't think that is correct unless someone was injured. All you are required to do is to provide name and address,both of the driver and the vehicle owner if that differs,not your insurance details.However you are required to provide your insurance details if a policeman at the scene asks you to do so.

yes, that is correct, but he is REFUSING to pass on insurance details, not he has not go them or does not have them, and to be honest, I would be making out that i DO have an injury so the police DO look into it. If they don't have insurance, likely the old bill will not be interested by the time that comes to light.
I would just be wanting to cover all my options, straight away. So many people now say they'll settle with out insurance, then you'll find their car is repaired and they deny ANYTHING to do with the accident...........................wrong but so common place.

Hopefully that will not be the case, and they will be genuine...........and things get sorted out rapidly.

 

[amb67]

Thanks for all the input so far, much appreciated.

I had to contact my insurance company to get things moving, they wouldn't give me their details. The car has had to be taken away for storage as the tail gate won't close/lock so I couldn't secure the vehicle and water was also pouring in to the back of the vehicle (raining heavily here with a little snow thrown in).

We really love the car and are hoping it's repairable, I have already said I want it repaired by a Mercedes-Benz authorised repairer, I don't want to invalidate my body corrosion warranty. My concern is they write it off and make a stupid offer, I need to know what to expect if they offer a settlement.

As long as my wife gets a car on Monday that is an equivelent brand/model, I'm happy. If they deliver a ford Fiesta/Focus then I will be talking to their MD 30 minutes after delivery, guaranteed. This is an absolute no fault accident and I am adamant that neither myself or my wife will be put out or out of pocket as a result of this idiots actions.

I'm with the Post Office for my insurance and have to say they have been really helpful thus far, let's hope this continues.

Took some piccies before they took it away, will upload in a moment as the camera battery has gone flat.

Thanks

 

[nokia]

sorry to hear this mate. whatever you do, don't sign any agreement for credit for car hire or anything of the sort. Even over the phone, dont agree to anything like this.

 

[pipmk]

Thanks for all the input so far, much appreciated.

I had to contact my insurance company to get things moving, they wouldn't give me their details. The car has had to be taken away for storage as the tail gate won't close/lock so I couldn't secure the vehicle and water was also pouring in to the back of the vehicle (raining heavily here with a little snow thrown in).

We really love the car and are hoping it's repairable, I have already said I want it repaired by a Mercedes-Benz authorised repairer, I don't want to invalidate my body corrosion warranty. My concern is they write it off and make a stupid offer, I need to know what to expect if they offer a settlement.

As long as my wife gets a car on Monday that is an equivelent brand/model, I'm happy. If they deliver a ford Fiesta/Focus then I will be talking to their MD 30 minutes after delivery, guaranteed. This is an absolute no fault accident and I am adamant that neither myself or my wife will be put out or out of pocket as a result of this idiots actions.

I'm with the Post Office for my insurance and have to say they have been really helpful thus far, let's hope this continues.

Took some piccies before they took it away, will upload in a moment as the camera battery has gone flat.

Thanks

Best of luck with it,no doubt your insurance co. will be threatening the other party with a court case if they don't either cough up for the repairs or refuse to supply details of their insurerer.

 

[Spannaz]

Thanks for all the input so far, much appreciated.

I had to contact my insurance company to get things moving, they wouldn't give me their details. The car has had to be taken away for storage as the tail gate won't close/lock so I couldn't secure the vehicle and water was also pouring in to the back of the vehicle (raining heavily here with a little snow thrown in).

We really love the car and are hoping it's repairable, I have already said I want it repaired by a Mercedes-Benz authorised repairer, I don't want to invalidate my body corrosion warranty. My concern is they write it off and make a stupid offer, I need to know what to expect if they offer a settlement.

As long as my wife gets a car on Monday that is an equivelent brand/model, I'm happy. If they deliver a ford Fiesta/Focus then I will be talking to their MD 30 minutes after delivery, guaranteed. This is an absolute no fault accident and I am adamant that neither myself or my wife will be put out or out of pocket as a result of this idiots actions.

I'm with the Post Office for my insurance and have to say they have been really helpful thus far, let's hope this continues.

Took some piccies before they took it away, will upload in a moment as the camera battery has gone flat.

Thanks

when you are sorted, pm me your car details, i will put in front of an underwriter and see what they would offer you if it 'were' one of their claims.
Very least i can do, but if you need any other advice in that area, let me know and i will have a word, having a family member in the business was a real advantage for my bro last week when his 3 week old car was rear ended, and written off!
Safe to say he is in a like for like replacement car!

 

[amb67]

Images of the damage as promised:

 

[amb67]

That's really kind of you, thank you.

Just wandered past the front window and it's very strange not seeing the car on the drive.

when you are sorted, pm me your car details, i will put in front of an underwriter and see what they would offer you if it 'were' one of their claims.
Very least i can do, but if you need any other advice in that area, let me know and i will have a word, having a family member in the business was a real advantage for my bro last week when his 3 week old car was rear ended, and written off!
Safe to say he is in a like for like replacement car!

 

[Spannaz]

yeah that IS actually probably worse than it looks as all the impact seems to have been taken in one point rather than spread across the whole rear panel.
Hopefully it won't exceed 50% of the value, and you can have it fixed correctly and back to you as soon as possible.
If you get really stuck, let me know, my E class estate is just being parked up on drive, would be happy to lend it to you for ferrying around your daughter. Wife has a Micra, we can live with that if needs be. Just let me know if we can help.
Stuart

 

[amb67]

Wow that's a great offer but we couldn't possibly accept, if my wife damaged your car whilst we had it we could never forgive ourselves. We do fortunately have access to another car so we are OK for the weekends but during the week I travel to London daily and living rural she needs a car, buses are not a regular site in the village.

I agree, the damage is actually quite bad, the impact point has creased the actual floor pan as far back as the lip for the footwell, the utmost rear seats foot well that is.

 

[Spannaz]

what rural part do you live in by the way? not that far from me given the 01622 number on the skip in the picture lol

 

[star]

Don't forget to claim for an increase in insurance premiums for the next few years, even a no fault claim will increase your premiums as they claim you are more likely to have another accident??

 

[amb67]

Really? So my insurance premiums will be affected due to a driver crashing in to me, surely that can't be legal!

I can't see how they can apply that logic, surely accidents are exactly as described by their name, an accident or an occurrence purely by chance or random.

My wife was stationary waiting to exit a junction, I can't see that blame could be laid at our door for any of this.

Don't forget to claim for an increase in insurance premiums for the next few years, even a no fault claim will increase your premiums as they claim you are more likely to have another accident??

 

[television]

I must say that my premiums were not affected at all when a car reversed into mine while parked.